is the main public service broadcaster in
Northern Ireland . The organisation is one of the three ''national regions'' of the
BBC , together with
BBC Scotland and
BBC Wales . Based at
Broadcasting House , Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content.
, Headquarters of the BBC in Northern Ireland.]]
BBC Northern Ireland operates two television stations;
Prior to 27 October
2006 ,
BBC Two NI was a digital only service while BBC Two Northern Ireland was available on analogue transmission. Since 28 October 2006, ''BBC Two Northern Ireland'' has been the on-air name for both services which have been merged.
BBC Northern Ireland has its own team of
Continuity Announcers which introduce all programmes on
BBC One and
BBC Two in
Northern Ireland .
BBC Northern Ireland makes some of its own programmes itself. However, unlike the radio stations, the television stations' content is for the most part identical to that broadcast by the
BBC One and
BBC Two channels in
England . Some network programmes may however be time-shifted in order to make room for more local programming. Most local programmes are broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland.
- '' BBC Newsline '' is the regional news service. Its main presenters are Noel Thompson , Donna Traynor , Rose Neill , Sarah Travers and Mark Carruthers . The main bulletin is from 18.30-19.00 with shorter bulletins at 13.30 and 22.25. Summaries are also broadcast during '' Breakfast '' and the early afternoon (all the BBC regions broadcast their own regional news simultaneously before all the networks reconnect to the national network for a national weather broadcast);
- regional political programmes, notably ''Spotlight'', ''Hearts And Minds'' and ''Lets Talk'';
- regional arts programmes;
- regional weekend chat shows;
- specialist coverage of events such a visit by the Queen or a distinguished visitor such as the US President or President Of Ireland ; coverage of the Orange parades on July 12 , St. Patrick's Day parades on 17 March , etc.
As well as programmes intended purely for a regional audience, BBC Northern Ireland also produces programmes for national consumption on the BBC's channels across the UK. The main part of BBC Northern Ireland's network productions are in drama and comedy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/nidrama). Most recently, this has included producing the high-profile drama series ''
Messiah ''.
BBC Northern Ireland is also involved in co-productions with other broadcasting networks, most notably the
Republic Of Ireland 's
RTÉ .
BBC One and Two Northern Ireland are widely available in the
Republic Of Ireland , usually on
Cable ,
MMDS or
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland) , but also directly via analogue or digital terrestrial as far south as
Dublin . The main provider of Cable TV in Ireland,
Liberty Global Europe owner of Chorus & NTL (UPC Ireland) have over 600,000 subscribers (Aug 2006) and Sky Digital have over 465,000 subscribers (Jan 2007) in the Republic of Ireland, all of whom receive BBC Northern Ireland 1 & 2, BBC3, BBC4 and BBC News 24 are also available.
The two channels can also be received '
Free-to-air ' via
Satellite throughout northern Europe.
BBC Northern Ireland operates two radio stations:
- BBC Radio Ulster , on 92-95 FM and 1341 Medium Wave, which broadcasts throughout Northern Ireland, and
- BBC Radio Foyle , on 93.1 FM and 792 Medium Wave, which broadcasts to the North West of Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland also takes part in the
'Regionalisation' of some of the BBC's national radio output. For example, on Thursday nights, Radio 1 splits the
Home Nations with
Scotland ,
Wales and
Northern Ireland broadcasting their own shows showcasing regional talent, with Zane Lowe still being heard in
England . The Radio 1 Session from Northern Ireland is presented by
Rory McConnell .
BBC Northern Ireland's online service provides News, Sport, Schools, Learning and Programme information for television and radio programmes. It provides a
Streaming Audio service for
Radio Ulster and
Radio Foyle as well as every programme on demand for up to a week after transmission. bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ is part of
BBC Online and operated from the
Belfast base. It also provides multi platform interactivity for TV programmes including the annual Schools' Cup
Rugby and
Gaelic Athletic Association finals.
- ''Ulster Mirror'' (1950s)
- ''Scene Around Six'' (1969-September 1984)
- ''Inside Ulster'' (September 1984 - 12 February 1996)
- ''Newsline 6.30/Newsline/BBC Newsline'' (12 February 1996 to date)
- '' Ballykissangel '' (late 1990s)
- ''Gunpowder, Treason and Plot'', historical drama
- ''Holy Cross''
- '' Messiah '' (Crime Drama)
- '' Murphy's Law ''
- ''The Ambassador'' (late 1990s)
- ''
Although BBC Northern Ireland broadcasts primarily in English, there is some programming in other languages. Radio Ulster carries a daily programme in
Irish and there is an Irish language section on BBC Northern Ireland's pages, where reference is made to "BBC Tuaisceart Éireann". There are also occasionally TV programmes in Irish. Programmes are also broadcast in Ulster Scots and there is a weekly programme in
Cantonese Chinese , called "Wah Yan Jee Sing".
The BBC television and radio stations are broadcast primarily from the
Divis (500kW),
Limavady and
Brougher Mountain transmitters. Both transmitters receive the BBC stations via a satellite feeds and each transmitter has a wealth of relay transmitters to provide annalouge service to areas not served by their respective main transmitter.
BBC Northern Ireland have a radio link from their studios in Belfast which allows mobile on-location News crews to hear the studio; the test tone is known as the "commbeep". BBC Northern Ireland has three main television studios located in Belfast. There are two small studios located in the BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast. These are home to BBC Northern Ireland's regional news & current affairs programmes. They are around 2,000 Sq Ft each and are called Studio B and Studio 1. The largest of the studios is called Studio A which is located in the BBC Blackstaff House on Great Victoria Street in Belfast (just a few streets away from the BBC Broadcasting House). The studio measures 6,000 Sq Ft and has facilities which equal those available in the main television studios in London. Studio A has been home to the award winning local sitcom Give My Head Peace, BBC Northern Ireland's contribution to BBC Children in Need, Question Time, Nolan Live and more.
- Patrick Kielty - chat show host now mainly working on network television
- Sean Rafferty - former presenter of ''Scene Around Six'' and ''Inside Ulster'', evening news programmes broadcast until mid-1990s, as well as BBC Radio Ulster news programmes, now a distinguished BBC Radio 3 music presenter
- Gloria Hunniford - former BBC NI presenter now well-known national personality working in network programmes based in London
- Suzanne Virdee -former News reporter and presenter of BBC Newsline and Inside Ulster and former radio presenter on BBC Radio Ulster now based in Birmingham presenting BBC Midlands Today .
- Colin Murray , BBC Radio One DJ started with BBC Radio Ulster as a presenter on the Across The Line programme.
